Lyndon B Johnson and Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren


Economic Policy
"Those who look to the action of this government for specific aid to the citizen to relieve embarrassments arising from losses by revulsions in commerce and credit,lose sight of the ends for which it was created, and the powers with which it is clothed. It was established to give security to us all. … It was not intended to confer special favors on individuals. The less government interferes with private pursuits,the better for the general prosperity." http://home.att.net/~jamesg/buren.html Martin Van Buren's economic policy was very simple... to just stay out of it. The less government regulation and interference the stronger the economy would become. Of course seeing as the economy of the time was in a sort of depression, Van Buren couldn't just say he wouldn't do anything and win the respect of his people, so in response he did try appropriating money to public works, but in the eyes of the people this was too little too late.

Foreign Policy
Martin Van Buren's greatest foreign policy legacy would be his peace-keeping efforts between the U.S. and the British "With respect to the northeastern boundary of the United States, no official correspondence between this Government and that of Great Britain has passed since that communicated to Congress toward the close of their last session." http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_van_buren.html The dispute was mainly between about the border of the U.S. and Canada, and while correspondance to Van Buren was slow about this issue he did manage in keeping peace even with the two countries mutual hatred of each other. Another act by Van Buren was his descision to not annex Texas so there would be an even number of slave and non-slave states, as so there would not be internal tension in the U.S.

Lyndon B. Johnson


Economic Policy
"Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty." http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/lyndon_b_johnson.html Soon after obtaining the presidency Lyndon B. Johnson began his "war on poverty". And for the most part he seemed to be winning this war, as the poverty rate diminished. Johnson helped created the programs such as head start, food stamps, work study, medicare and medicaid, which are still used today, Johnson had a hands on approach to the economy, passing the most bills (on economy or otherwise) than any other president since FDR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1589660

Foreign Policy
"Just like the Alamo, somebody damn well needed to go to their aid. Well, by God, I'm going to Vietnam's aid!" http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/l/lyndon_b_johnson.html Johnson did not want to see North Vietnam be able to control South Vietnam. Johnson did not like communism (like every other office holder in the U.S. pretty much) and did not want to see the Democracy of South Vietnam fall into communist control. Johnson used the Gulf of Tonkin Incident as an excuse to invade Vietnam (the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution allowed this without an actual declaration of war called by senate). This is by far Johnson's greatest legacy, even while doing so much for the economy, Johnson will always be remembered for the Vietnam War.


From these two presidencies we can tell how different they are just on these 4 issues. Van Buren was a hands off kind of guy who thought the economy only worked with no government interference, and Johnson thought the only way the economy would improve is if he did something about it. Van Buren wanted peace, while Johnson fought for freedom of another land and to disrupt the spreading of communism.